The inevitable became a reality Friday afternoon. David Fizdale was fired by the Knicks after 104 games and just 21 wins. This year was supposed to be different, after the additions of Marcus Morris, Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Taj Gibson and Wayne Ellington. Instead, with a 4-18 record, the season was somehow going worse than last year’s tankathon, when the Knicks were trying to lose.
Below are five moments that led to this day:
July 1
Fizdale’s magnetic personality was supposed to make the Knicks a player in free agency. Instead, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant went to the rival Nets. The Knicks didn’t even pursue a meeting with Kawhi Leonard. Bronx native Kemba Walker signed with the Celtics. Jimmy Butler went to the Heat. The Knicks tried to spin free agency as a victory, signing decent players to short contracts, hoping this was the first step towards respectability.
“There were a lot of max type players that we could have met with, that were interested in coming here. We had a certain way that we wanted to build this team. This is how we chose to build it,” president Steve Mills said in September.
In reality, it was a huge disappointment, and Fizdale’s connections couldn’t even give them a chance with a superstar player.
Nov. 11
The Knicks no-show a home loss to the Cavaliers, losing by 21 points to fall to 2-8. The game, however, pales in comparison to the post-game fireworks: Mills and general manager Scott Perry meet the media in an impromptu press conference prior to Fizdale’s. It’s a strange scene. Usually, only the coach talks after games. It’s the first sign that Fizdale is in trouble.
“We have patience and we believe in coach, and we believe in the group that we put together,” Mills said then. “But we also know that … we need to find a way to have a consistent level of effort and execution.”
Nov. 20
The Knicks have some actual momentum, with two wins in their previous three games. They are playing well in Philadelphia, leading the contending 76ers by 17 points late in the third quarter. But before anyone can call this a breakthrough, they fall apart, outscored 35-25 in the final quarter.
“We played hard and competed for four quarters,” Morris said afterward. “As long as we’re competing our ass off, that’s all I can ask for. I’m proud of us. We fought.”
The Knicks haven’t won since, losing eight straight games.